Source: Rudolph Giuliani Favorite For Trump Secretary Of State
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is the favorite to be secretary of state in the Trump administration, according to Associated Press sources.
The official said there is no real competition for the job and that it is Giuliani's if he wants it.
Giuliani said at a Wall Street Journal CEO Council event in Washington that he will not be attorney general in Trump's administration.
That was one of the jobs for which the former federal prosecutor and top Trump adviser has been seen as a top contender.
Cabinet announcements are expected in the week to come.
Meanwhile, an oil billionaire, a North Dakota lawmaker and a former Bush administration official are also being considered to run Donald Trump's Energy Department, according to transition planning documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The documents, which are being closely scrutinized by energy lobbyists in Washington, also outline early policy priorities for a Trump administration. Topping the list is repealing the Clean Power Plan, an Obama administration effort to limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. Implementation is currently on hold awaiting a court ruling.
Those under consideration for energy secretary include Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil tycoon and leading proponent of fracking, and North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer, an early Trump supporter from a major oil drilling state. Venture capitalist Robert Grady, who worked in President George H.W. Bush's administration, is listed as a contender to lead both the Energy and Interior Departments.
It's unclear whether the list is exhaustive or has been reviewed by Trump.
Trump is also considering Richard Grenell as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, according to a person familiar with transition planning.
If selected, Grenell would be the first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level foreign policy post. Grenell served as U.S. spokesman at the U.N. throughout President George W. Bush's administration.
Grenell briefly served as a foreign policy adviser to Republican Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.
Lawmakers in Washington are also weighing in on the two key administration appointments Trump has made so far.
Trump's son Eric, his daughter Ivanka and his son Don Jr. arrived at the Trump Tower this morning as part of their father's transition team, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported. His three oldest children will take over running the family business in New York while Trump is in Washington.
"This is big league stuff. This is-- this is our country. Our country is going bad. We're going to save our country," Trump said. "I don't care about hotel occupancy -- it's peanuts compared to what we're doing."
The president-elect has already announced two key appointments. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will serve as White House chief of staff. Steve Bannon, Trump's campaign CEO and former head of Breitbart News, will serve as chief strategist and senior counselor.
The two men had made up the president-elect's chief of staff shortlist, and while Priebus received that job, Bannon's post also is expected to wield significant clout. The media executive with ties to the alt-right and white nationalist movement was given top billing in the press release announcing their appointments.
'60 Minutes' CBS' Lelsey Stahl asked Trump about reports of racial slurs and acts of violence against minorities and members of the LGBTQ community in the days since his election.
"I am so saddened to hear that," Trump said. "And I say, 'Stop it.'"
Video And Full Transcript From '60 Minutes'
Trump announced his transition team on Friday. Pence is now leading the team, replacing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who was named vice chairman.
Christie is joined on the executive committee by Giuliani, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.
A statement says more than a dozen other people will also advise Trump on transition matters – including Bannon and Priebus. The team also includes:
- Congressman Lou Barletta
- Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
- Congressman Chris Collins
- Jared Kushner
- Congressman Tom Marino
- Rebekah Mercer
- Steven Mnuchin
- Congressman Devin Nunes
- Anthony Scaramucci
- Peter Thiel
- Donald Trump Jr.
- Eric Trump
- Ivanka Trump
Trump's hires announced Sunday were, at first glance, contradictory. But they fit a pattern of the celebrity businessman creating a veritable Rorschach test that allowed his supporters to see what they wanted.
Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told reporters at Trump Tower that the transition team is working on naming members of the incoming president's staff and Cabinet and will make additional appointments to his team this week.
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